February’s often the gloomiest month in the UK weather year but at least there are lots of bookish goodies on offer, certainly enough for a two-part preview. I’m kicking off both with long awaited novels.
For some reason I’ve never got around to Hannah Kent’s The Good People having very much enjoyed Burial Rites but I jumped at the chance of a proof of Devotion which grew partly out of Kent’s fascination with her ancestors and their settlement of Southern Australia. Opening in 1836 in Prussia, it follows Hanne, a young misfit in her Old Lutheran community, persecuted for their religion, who forms a friendship with Thea, newly moved to the village. When the community is granted permission to leave, they embark on a dangerous journey which will lead to a new life for some. Kent’s absorbing, atmospheric novel takes an unexpected turn halfway through which brought me up short but this, of course, is a spoiler free zone.
I’m not entirely sure about Alex Hyde’s debut, Violets, set in the last days of the Second World War. Two women, both named Violet, are contemplating very different futures after a miscarriage leaves one unable to conceive while the other faces the stigma of an unmarried pregnancy, choosing to dodge it with a posting to Naples. ‘As their lives begin to intertwine, a spellbinding story of women’s courage emerges, suffused with power, lyricism and beauty, from an exhilarating new voice in British fiction’ according to the publishers. Lots of pre-publication enthusiasm for this one on Twitter but it’s Megan’s Harper’s praise that’s swung it for me.
I read Julie Otsuka’s The Buddha in the Attic long enough ago to not remember it very well other than that I enjoyed her writing. Her new novel, The Swimmers, is about Alice, once a member of a group for whom their local swimming pool was the centre of their lives, now in a residential home, lost and confused, as her family tries to find the best way to care for her. It’s a novel ‘about mothers and daughters, grief and memory, love and implacable loss, The Swimmers is spellbinding, incantatory and unforgettable’ according to the blurb which sounds both poignant and rather beautiful
The eponymous Mona of Pola Oloixarac’s novel is a Peruvian writer with a penchant for recreational substance
abuse. Singled out as a writer of colour on the whitest of campuses, Mona finds herself nominated for a prestigious literary award and heads off to a Swedish village where she and her fellow nominees from all over the world are thrust together in intimate proximity. In a sinister twist, Mona finds evidence of a physical violence that she can’t, or won’t, remember happening to her. Mona comes garlanded with praise from a starry list of writers from Rachel Cusk to Joshua Cohen, and it does sound intriguing.
I’ve yet to read Niamh Campbell’s This Happy but that hasn’t stopped me from casting my eyes at her second novel, We Were Young. Nearing 40 with a stalled career, Cormac is living the life of a much younger man while his peers are well into domesticity or divorced. Two things look set to change his life: a sudden intimacy with an ambitious young woman and his brother’s mid-life crisis. ‘Set in Dublin, a city built on burial pits, We Were Young is a dazzlingly clever, deeply enjoyable novel from a Sunday Times Short Story Award-Winning author’ say the publishers. Not sure if that ‘burial pits’ reference is hinting at something.
I’ve already read Irish author Audrey Magee’s The Colony whose overarching theme is colonialism as you might expect from that title. Unbeknownst to each other, two men are on their way to a tiny island. Mr Lloyd and Mr Masson are each planning to capture the spirit of the place, one through his paintings, the other by recording its speech. As the summer wears on, the two men become increasingly antagonistic. Meanwhile, the radio serves up news of daily atrocities on the mainland where The Troubles are in full swing. I loved this spare yet lyrical novel whose ending made it all the more powerful.
February’s previews both end with story collections by Irish writers, both of which I’ve read. Sheila Armstrong’s debut collection How to Gut a Fish came with a glowing endorsement from Roddy Doyle which was part of the lure for me, that and the hint of the surreal in its blurb, and it lived up to both. Most of Armstrong’s stories are disquieting, peopled by idiosyncratic characters, often outsiders ill at ease with themselves. All are beautifully expressed, studded with poetic images and the occasional flashes of humour. Just one piece didn’t work for me. Not a bad hit rate out of 14.
That’s it for part one of February’s new fiction. A click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis for any that take your fancy. Part two soon…
I’m definitely looking forward to the new Otsuka. I’m unsure about the Kent but will borrow a library copy and see how I get on.
I’ll be posting a review of the Kent nearer pub date but have things to say about it that I’ve omitted for fear of spoilers. I’ll be interested to see how other reviewers handle it!
I really enjoyed The Good People so Devotion has caught my eye. I read Violets recently and although I thought the story of one of the Violets was more compelling than the other there were elements of the writing that really stood out.
That’s encouraging to hear, Cathy. I’m itching to talk to someone who’s read Devotion to see what they think ot it!
I have Devotion on my shelf and quite fancy Audrey Magee’s The Colony as I enjoyed her debut. Will check it out.
Thoroughly enjoyed The Colony, Anne. Highly recommend it.
I’m looking forward to the Otsuka as I loved The Buddha in the Attic, but Mona is the one on this list that has really caught my eye!
Oh, that’s interesting. Not top of my list but I’d love to hear what you think of it if you get around to it.
Your post has reminded how I still haven’t read Burial Rites, which I think I bought on kindle, whenever it was that it was being talked about, it feels like a long time ago now. Her new novel sounds really interesting and compelling too. Clearly an author I should have made time to read.
It does seem a long time ago! It reminded me at the time of Alias Grace – similar premise.
I loved Audrey Magee’s The Undertaking, so I’m definitely on board for The Colony. And I enjoyed Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites, so I’m eager to take a look at Devotion.
I’ve yet to read The Undertaking but would recommend The Colony. Beautiful writing. Devotion took a surprising turn which I’m still not sure about.
I was wondering what others thought about that twist in Devotion. I was so disappointed at first but, reading on, I felt it worked.
I’m still not at all sure about it but Kent’s such a good writer I stuck with it and was pleased I did.
The writing is exquisite.
I’m a quarter of the way through Devotion now and so far, loving it (seems more in the style of Burial Rites rather than Good People, which I didn’t enjoy much).
Keen to know what you think when you’ve finished, Kate. I loved the writing.
One of the lady’s in my book club who reads a lot and rarely gives 5 star reviews told us all we absolutely must read Devotion, so I’ve added it to my pile.
*ladies
High praise indeed, and a great choice for a book club if you all decide to choose it
It looks like Violets will be covered on R4’s Book at Bedtime at some point, so I’ll listen to it there. The premise definitely intrigues me, especially given the wartime setting. Hannah Kent (or historical fiction in general) isn’t for me, but it’s good to be reminded of this forthcoming release. Burial Rites was a massive hit, especially with book groups!
I think Devotion will be, too, Jacqui. Violets could go either way for me although several people whose opions I trust on Twitter have been very convincing about it.
I’ve yet to read anything by Hannah Kent. I did start Burial Rites but it was in audio form and I couldn’t get into it – probably works better in print. The new one sounds right up my street as it were
I enjoyed Burial Rites but it’s a lengthy novel so would depend on how well it was adapted in audio form, I suspect.
I didn’t get very far with it at all
An interesting bunch! The two Irish novels appeal most – I’ve requested The Colony from NetGalley so it’s in the lap of the gods. I loved Burial Rites and hated The Good People, so I’m on the fence about Kent’s new one – I think I’ll wait and see what the general reaction to it is before deciding…
You’re the second blogger to have made that comment about Kent to me which makes me glad I left The Good People alone. Hope you enjoy The Colony!
I’ve never returned to Kent past Burial Rites either but I would like to. The Magee really appeals to me too; I think I read her debut but that’s not the title I recall, so maybe not…
Perhaps it was published under a different title there. The Colony is excellent. A very unusual but effective way of exploring colonialism.
It was only her debut that I’ve read; I thought perhaps I’d misremembered her name. Here, if you’re curious.
The Swimmers and The Colony really appeal to me. Nice to know you already recommend The Colony!
I’ll be reviewing The Colony next month, Naomi. Great book!
The Swimmers sounds very tempting – I’m not familiar with the author at all but the title The Buddha in the Attic is great!
It does sound great, doesn’t it? I remember loving the writing in Buddha in the Attic but nothing else whatsoever, sadly.